Two seafarers have died following an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to an update issued by UK Maritime Trade Operations on September 2.
UKMTO said it had received a delayed report concerning an August 31 security incident involving a tanker in the Strait. The initial notification recorded two casualties, while the subsequent update confirmed that both had died.
Context: Strait of Hormuz shipping guide
The agency did not disclose the identity of the vessel or the seafarers. It said authorities were investigating the incident and that no environmental impact had been reported.
Related context: earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage · earlier Strait of Hormuz coverage
Operational context
Saudi Arabia separately identified the casualties as two Filipino seafarers serving aboard the Saudi-owned very large crude carrier Sidr. The kingdom said the vessel had been targeted in an Iranian attack, according to Reuters.
Sidr is owned by Saudi national shipping company Bahri. It was reportedly one of two supertankers carrying Saudi crude that were hit late on August 31 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Bahri placed the time of the incident at approximately 11:40 p.m. local time.
The company said it remained in contact with the tanker and was coordinating its response with the relevant authorities and maritime industry stakeholders.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry called for an end to the escalation and emphasised the need to respect international maritime safety and protect the security of global energy supplies.
What it means for maritime operators
The latest fatalities raise the known number of seafarers killed in attacks on commercial shipping in the region to at least 18 since the conflict intensified earlier in 2026.
At least 15 seafarers had been confirmed dead by mid-July, with dozens of others injured. The toll rose again after a crew member aboard the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Dignity was killed when the ship was struck by an unidentified projectile during an outbound passage through the Strait on August 17.
A separate bulk carrier was hit two days earlier, causing a crew casualty, although UKMTO did not report that the affected seafarer had died.
Major shipping organisations have repeatedly warned about the impact of the conflict on civilian crews. In June, BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO jointly called for an immediate end to attacks on merchant vessels, arguing that seafarers must not become victims of political or military pressure.